David Leavy, a longtime key lieutenant of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, is leaving his current chief operating officer role at CNN and returning to the network’s parent, according to two people familiar with the matter.
“David arrived at CNN in tumultuous times and did a brilliant job stabilizing the company at a difficult moment. During the transition he led CNN jointly with Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling and played a central part helping me into my role as chairman and CEO before, as COO, leading multiple organizations and teams across revenue, promotion, operations and data,” said Mark Thompson, CNN’s chairman and CEO, in a memo to staff Wednesday. “David fell in love with CNN from the moment he walked in and has supported and championed our journalism and our great brand ever since. He’s always been a voice for change and confidence in the future.”
Details about Leavy’s new corporate role could not be immediately learned. In years past, he has overseen corporate communications and research, among other key areas. He is expected to stay at CNN through late June.
Leavy, who had worked at Warner Bros. Discovery and its predecessor companies for 23 years, joined CNN in June of 2023, assuming responsibility for commercial, operational and promotional activities across CNN Worldwide. He initially reported to former CNN CEO Chris Licht, who grappled with downturns in ratings and a staff resistant to his plans to squeeze out much of the swagger that CNN embodied under his predecessor, Jeff Zucker. After Thompson arrived, Leavy was one of a quartet of senior executives, including Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Shearling, charged with maintaining all operations.
In recent months, Thompson has put in place a new structure that also includes staff for the expected launches of digital subscription products. CNN has unveiled plans for a stand-alone app tied to its web site and a weather service. The company’s flagship linear network continues to struggle with viewership challenges.
Thompson said much of Leavy’s oversight will be split among other senior executives.
“When David Zaslav first called me about moving over to CNN, the initial plan was a six-month assignment, and that quickly turned into a multi-year drive to help the company pivot, transform and reposition itself for a new multiplatform future,” Leavy said in a memo. “I am so thankful for the opportunity, have learned a great deal, and hopefully made a small contribution by bringing some leadership, stability and collaboration to CNN during a challenging and disruptive period in its history.”
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